Put a stamp on the City Nature Challenge!

During the 2024 City Nature Challenge learn to combine activities and skills. This year consider learning a bit about postage stamps. Maybe start a stamp collection! Perhaps there is or was a philatelist in your family? Maybe there is a box of stamps buried in a closet that could be retrieved and dusted off? Linking stamp collecting to other pastimes and pursuits can be both fun and rewarding.

To get started test your knowledge about postage stamps.

Did you know that a national Stamp Advisory Committee guides Canada Post in selecting stamp subjects and designs?

Are you aware that many species have been highlighted by Canada Post on stamps over the years? Browse an iNat project highlighting a list of species depicted on Canadian postage stamps

Did you know that in the 1970s there was a series of stamps featuring provincial flowers? How many of these provincial symbols (species) will be found, photographed, and uploaded to iNat during the CNC? Do you know what your provincial flower is?

Did you know that from 2016 to 2018, Canada Post featured Provincial birds on stamp? Don't know what your provincial bird is? Read this quick guide from The Canadian Homeschooler!

Did you know that each year since 2007 Canada Post has released a spring flower stamp?

Did you know that in the past Canada Post released a series of birds of Canada stamps? How many of these species can you observe in your part of the country? If you are using a cell phone as your camera it may be difficult to photograph birds – consider recording their songs and calls using the iNat app.

Did you know that in 2018 bee stamps were created to pay tribute to native pollinators? How many pollinators can you find in your neighbourhood? What plants are they visiting? How many observations can you record and upload to iNaturalist?

Did you know that since 1981 the Canadian Museum of History has housed a Canadian Stamp Collection which features every postage stamp ever issued in Canada — including stamps issued before Confederation in 1867!

How many stamps can you find that feature plants and animals that you can find and photograph in your part of the country?

Have fun learning about postage stamps and of course, happy iNatting!

Images of postage stamps used in this post were downloaded from Canada Post.

Posted on March 23, 2024 07:10 PM by mkkennedy